312th Airlift Squadron steps-up, first unit to adopt Travis Heritage Center aircraft

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Cindy Alejandrez
  • 349th Public Affairs
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  Airmen of the Reserve's 312th Airlift Squadron recently adopted a C-119 Flying Boxcar, providing them the opportunity to look back on the unit's history.
The Flying Boxcar was flown by the 312th AS from 1958 to 1966, when the unit was located in Hamilton Air Force Base, which is now closed. Thankfully, the C-119 located at the Travis Air Force Base Heritage Center will receive special care from the 312th AS, as it is the first plane adopted by a unit.

Enrique Ugalde, a volunteer with the Travis Air Force Base Heritage Center, explained that the squadron will be responsible for the plane's care.
"The unit will be in charge of taking care of the plane, fixing it, restoring it, all of the things they would like to do."

As a first task, the unit washed the plane June 2, 2013. The event, planned as a morale booster, also attracted 312th AS alumni. Chief Master Sgt. Dave Lafferty, chief loadmaster with the squadron, said that at times, his unit becomes so focused on the task at hand, they don't always have a chance to reflect on its history.
"(It is) easy to lose track of the heritage that a lot of units really have. This is an opportunity to have a morale building event, get everyone's hands on a bit of unit history, and have squadron bonding," he said.

For the Airmen of the 312th AS, this was an opportunity not only to learn about their unit's past, but also to see how airlift planes have evolved. Chief Master Sgt. Robert Fletcher, chief engineer, said that working on the C-119 was likely more challenging than it is to work on the C-5.

Before, crewmembers had to remove the back part of the plane and set it aside to carry boxes inside the plane, and rely on straps to hold things in place. Now, cargo planes such as the C-5 have hydraulic doors, which are relatively easy to operate and rollers on the ground to push pallets inside. Those pallets can now be locked in to keep them from shifting during flight. Also, they can carry much more cargo weight.

To put things in perspective Fletcher said, "One of the vehicles we carry (in the C-5) weighs more than this C-119."
Retired Senior Master Sgt. Dave Raymond, who served his entire 40 year career with the 312th AS, came out for the C-119 wash because he and his family have a long history with the unit. Actually, Raymond has been part of the 312th AS since he was a seven year old, when his father, retired SMSgt. Al Raymond, also served with the unit while stationed at Hamilton Air Force Base.
"In those days we actually went out to work on the planes in the summer," said Raymond who helped care for Flying Boxcars as a child.
He explained that by being part of the 312th family since his childhood, he has seen the transition from C-119, to the C-124s, C-145s, to the C-5s used now.
"It is a great experience to be a part of that history," said Raymond.

At the end of the wash the unit gathered to take a group photo, which involved both currently serving, and past members. Fletcher explained that the maintenance on the C-119 will likely take place on a quarterly basis, and they look forward to buffing out the metal now that the dirt has been washed off.

Travis Heritage Center is dedicated to aviation history and the heritage of Travis Air Force Base and its units. If you or your unit want to know more about adopting an aircraft, contact the Travis Heritage Center at 707-424-5883 or visit https://travisheritagecenter.org.